February 13, 2016 - Dejected University of Memphis head coach Josh Pastner (right) looks on from the bench during a 94-87 overtime loss to Tulane University at Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans, La. Memphis is now 5-7 in AAC conference play. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)(Photo: Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal)Buy Photo

Former Memphis men's basketball coach Josh Pastner denied on Thursday allegations of sexual assault while he was still working for the Tigers in 2016.

Pastner's attorney issued a statement claiming that the allegations made by former Pastner associate Ron Bell and an adult female who filed a countersuit on Thursday are part of a months-long attempt to defame and extort Pastner, who is now in his second season as the head coach at Georgia Tech.

"There was no sexual assault," Scott Tompsett wrote in the statement. "It is a lie. Josh never acted improperly."

The Pima County (Ariz.) Superior Court clerk's office confirmed that a complaint was filed Thursday with Pastner as the defendant. Pastner was responding to accusations regarding inappropriate sexual conduct.

According to KVOA-TV in Tuscon, Ariz., the countersuit alleges that Pastner masturbated in front of the alleged victim in a Houston hotel room on Feb. 9, 2016 ahead of the Tigers' game at Houston the next day.

She was traveling with Bell, according to the lawsuit, which also alleges Pastner sexually harassed the alleged victim on 11 other occasions between Feb. 14, 2016, and March 3, 2016.

Through a spokesperson, the University of Memphis said it would have no comment on the matter.

Last month, Pastner preemptively filed a civil lawsuit against Bell and the adult female alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and attempts to blackmail and extort both Pastner and his family, among other allegations.

"Unequivocally, there is zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero truth to any of those disgusting, bogus allegations," Pastner told reporters after Georgia Tech's game against Louisville on Thursday night. "It's disgusting."

The accusations between Bell and Pastner began several months ago when Bell admitted to providing impermissible benefits to two Georgia Tech players in an article by CBS Sports. Bell alleged that Pastner encouraged him to do it in order to keep the players from transferring.

The two formed a friendship more than a decade ago when Pastner encouraged Bell to seek help for a prescription drug problem. They then re-connected in 2013, according to USA TODAY, when Pastner provided emotional support for Bell while he battled cancer.